Drummer reacts to "Jungleland" by Bruce Springsteen

[@Billy-zv6gv]

My Dad told me: "This Springsteen feller is younger than me, and older than you, but I think he just might be all of our generations' William Shakespeare!"

[@johnhextall1136]

Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge Drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain... What sublime poetry

[@L33Reacts]

It really is beautiful wordplay. He is a true storyteller.

[@bostonwhofan]

It's one of my favorite lines in any song of all time.

[@michaelkeefe8494]

The poets down here don't write nothing at all. They just stand back and let it all be.

[@znbwlr]

My favorite 2 lines of any song, ever.

[@sidecardog5244]

In my opinion those first two "disappointing" albums were the best of Springsteen's work. The Dylan inspired lyrics and multilayered jazz fusion style made Greetings from Asbury Park and The Wild, Innocent, E Street Shuffle epic masterpieces of seventies rock. There was a reason he was featured as the "new saviour" of rock on both Time and Newsweek magazines in 1975.

[@michaelkeefe8494]

The back side of wild, innocent is one of the best sides of an album I've ever heard.

[@soupdragonuk]

@@michaelkeefe8494 Indeed. Incident on 57th Street is my favourite Springsteen track by far.

[@gman7495]

There's never been a songwriter who paints with their words and music better than Bruce. Meaning...he can create a cinematic image in the listener's mind that's unparalleled in the history of his genre.

[@astonsfan]

This is not a song....... this is art.

[@SteveA308]

This

[@jraben1065]

Oh Wow! "Jungleland" is a great pick. I love the studio version. Bruce's final vocals are mesmerizing. And the song has one of the all-time great Sax solos, written by Bruce, and then painfully learned by Clarence Clemons, who makes it soar with emotion. Seeing "Jungleland" played live with the E-Street Band was unforgettable, as the final Bruce vocal became even more astounding, being performed live "without a net". There are also many great videos of Jungleland Live, very much worth seeing.

[@hoppers13]

I remember headline in ‘75, “I have seen the future of rock and roll and it’s name is Bruce Springsteen.” So I checked him out and he hit me like a fucking sledgehammer! The Boss. Best seen live, but always just the best.

[@Penn57]

I’m a 67 year old great grand that’s been a fan since 1974. I have had the pleasure of seeing him in concert many times over the years and have to say that Jungleland is my all time favorite of Bruce and the E Street Band and have to say it is absolutely an experience to see this live!! So glad you were able to experience this. Love to see you react to more. Best story teller ever !!!

[@djm0111]

Clarence's solo in this song might be peak rock n roll saxophone. Can't think of a better one.

[@gusrose62]

Bob Seger sax player is close.

[@billbitterman9487]

One of my favorite songs of all time. One word description: CINEMATIC!

[@flarrfan]

Operatic!

[@janewells5970]

Bruce is a national treasure! Clarence Clemmons is a star of this song, but he and Bruce shared a love for each other. Hope to hear more!

[@lyndasanchez521]

This was made in the 70's, jungleland was New York City. When Harlem bas busy, dancing in the streets, and fighting was not necessary killing like today. In this early time, he was great, this man has not changed in any way, 4:55 even at almost 75 yrs, in 2024!! Love him, I'm almost 77!!

[@samuellord8576]

Yes, I too think this is Bruce's best song. It has everything, especially emotive power. Next to this is my favorite, "Atlantic City." It's another heartbreaker, beautifully told, perhaps the grittiest of all his songs. Thank you, great reaction!

[@mikecreger9702]

David Sancious played most of the songs on "The Wild, The Innocent and the E-Street Shuffle". You are correct that he can play the hell out of a piano.

[@brucehenninger2662]

It's funny to hear you say you only know his "radio songs." Here in NJ, he has dozens and dozens of "radio songs" - including this one. Couldn't even begin to count how many times I've heard "Jungleland" on the classic rock stations here, along with the almost-as-long "Rosalita.". As a fellow drummer, my next recommendation for a Springsteen song would be "Candy's Room." Max goes OFF on that one!

[@gregfagan199]

This is a rock epic, and in my opinion, "Born to Run" is the greatest rock album ever made.

[@RushfanDave]

RIP Clarence 🙏 The "big man" indeed... This is my favorite Springsteen album and song. The title track is a banger as well!

[@TheCornishCockney]

WHAT an era,nothing comes close. The 70’s,unbeatable.

[@painterroy]

Greatest Sax solo in any Rock and Roll song ever! Legendary!

[@artomatt]

Bruce's first four albums are all top favorites of mine.

[@WillCashem]

That sax solo still gives me goosebumps after all these years of listening to it. Bruce held up the release of this album for 6 months working on this song trying to get it just right. I'm sure glad he did.

[@canadianstudmuffin]

One of the greatest album closers ever.

[@danhall4293]

That’s Roy Bittan on piano. David left the group just before BTR.

[@willoughby5150]

Bruce Springsteen New York serenade features incredible keyboards by David Sanchez incredible song

[@kevinbundy7422]

*Sancious

[@jimmymcintyre7944]

This is the song that Bruce had to play in concert. Everyone expected it back in the day.

[@randyhein7513]

I always loved the song before this one, Meeting Across The River for it's story telling. Back to back a great pair of songs.

[@TheAsphyx666]

The best storyteller in rock'n roll history.

[@John_Chu]

The E Street Band was named after the address of pianist David Sancious’ mother’s house in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where the group often gathered to jam.

[@JohnS-u8u]

Pretty sure it's E Street in Belmar NJ

[@joelhoulette3244]

A rock and roll masterpiece. Springsteens voice is best ever in this. This album propelled him into superstardom with time magazine cover story. The media was portraying him as the next bob dylan. It all came together for him real quick. I get goosebumps from beginning to end of this song.

[@Indy1831]

The greatest American Rock & Roll band ever!

[@thelatenightbar]

It's the Big Man ! with a saxophone in his hands !

[@jsome2348]

I personally think this us the greatest song of all time. And it's even better live

[@RJ-oy7cq]

Bruce is very poetic w ith his details and lyrics.

[@jonathanroberts8981]

Sancious only plays on the title track. It’s Roy Bittan here. (Wrote this before you noted it.) Another excellent track Bittan plays on is Dire Straits’ “Tunnel of Love.” Some quarrel with me, but I view this track as a different sort of progressive music - it goes through different episodes/moods, and tells an expansive story. That it’s about street people instead of wizards or some such doesn’t matter.

[@MattKrogmeier]

Definitely has a prog vibe in the arrangement. I’m with you on that!

[@jimakcelik6486]

"Badlands" - Bruce Springsteen is another great song.

[@davidgale7384]

One of the greatest American stories ever recorded.

[@azizmooshoolov2308]

So we've started Springsteen? Live clips. Gonna have to do live clips.

[@flarrfan]

My favorites: Kitty's Back, Perth and NYC Serenade, Rome...then there's Tom Joad with Morello.

[@billbitterman9487]

The entire Born To Run album is an all time great record. Every song is great. Probably worth a full album listen. Don’t miss Thunder Road, the title track (of course), She’s The One, oh hell…just listen to the whole record

[@johncampbell756]

I grew up in Neptune, NJ. Bassist Garry Tallent graduated from my high school (before I was born). Just a few blocks away from that old high school building was The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Asbury is David's hometown. Just a few toen to the south is Brlmar, where the E Street Band got their name. My sister currently lives near Bruce's ranch. RIP Ckarence and Danny Federici. Danny was slready in the E Street Band, but only appears onnthe title track. I highly recommend the live version of Kity's Back from the Live at Hammersmith Odeon, 1975. There is a video, but it is hard to find online. The DVD cane in a boxset of Born to Run.

[@squidkid2]

Springsteen's first two albums Greetings From Asbury Park and The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle are masterpieces and even though they might not have been commercial successes you need to hear them and know them. They are songwriting at the highest level and if you don't know them you don't know Springsteen and the E Street Band.

[@aberhallofrank]

You should see this Song live!!!

[@davidwolf4677]

No one writes music like this anymore.

[@denniszimmerman1279]

You mentioned that The Boss tells a great story. Indeed, he told the story of many baby boomer's lives, mine included. The Boss keeps it real. "...they wind up wounded, and not even dead..."

[@davidwalsh7128]

Thank you for this one. You really got to what works in Jungleland. Bruce ‘s first two albums were not big sellers when released. But they resonated with his original hardcore fans and musicians. To feel and hear that early magic please consider Side two of The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle. Three spectacular songs and David S is featured. This is usually ranked as his best album by longtime fandom. Thanks again....

[@KennyRansom-l5k]

In a cinematic tone I see "Jungleland" as Bruce's version of "West Side Story" .... I picture this song in that way whenever I listen to it. 😎

[@davidalden656]

"The River" Live in Tempe, 1980. Absolutely soul-wrenching performance.

[@JBeck33]

His writing in the 70s was extremely cinematic. You can close your eyes while listening to these songs and clearly see a movie.

[@bigbow62]

Must hear this live w/the Big Man wailing on that sax🎷🙂 Also give a listen to....... Light of Day (live)

[@pegasus00]

Roy Bittan also played on Dire Straights Making Movies album. He has a distinctive style.

[@billbitterman9487]

His playing on Bat Out Of Hell is great as well

[@Upe-f9c]

I saw Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band in Gothenburg in 1985. No concert can ever match that one. They actually had to rebuild the Ullevi stadium after that concert because it had been shaken to it´s grounds, and for several years they held the big acts (like Stones and Bowie) in another place.

[@flubblert]

"The River" title track off the album of the same name, and "Point Blank" from the same album are killer.

[@kristinemckee9279]

Spectacular

[@brumleytwitch6265]

Bruce is one of a half dozen artists whose live recordings are always better than the studio versions. There's a fantastic live version of this song from The River tour in 1980 on KZbin. It adds so much watching Clarence blow that sax solo in concert. Whew! I suggest you give it a watch.

[@SteveA308]

This song is life.

[@deanroddey2881]

Do some tracks off of "Darkness on the Edge of Town." It's a truly epic, dark, intense album. BTW, there are nice documentaries about the making of both "Born to Run" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town." They earned their pay making those albums.

[@andreafanti3583]

Seen live in Rome, 1988. Jungleland was the top of the show. An amazing moment in my life. I cried.

[@mikeross14]

Do first big hit!"Born to Run!" album's title song made Bruce a household name!

[@MattKrogmeier]

It was a long time before I could listen to this one after The Big Man passed. Still an epic telling of a musical tale. For Born To Run, stick with studio versions first, then pick some live ones out. The “wall of sound” achieved in the mix is sublime.

[@flarrfan]

He's not Clarence, but Jake is a reasonable facsimile. There's a YT video on Jake's first Jungleland performance in Goteburg Sweden.

[@MattKrogmeier]

@@flarrfan I agree…Jake does his uncle proud.

[@julieskipper1061]

"That sax, god damn.." Yep.

[@ursgeiser6570]

After 2 more songwriter albums (Patti Smith covered the fantastic Because the Night; Manfred Mann's Earthband 2 songs; both were a goldmine of songs), Born to Run was a rock album with stories and transitions/prog-like. I suggest you listen to the whole album; you will not regret it. The 1st song Thunder Road is such a brilliant start, then the 2nd Tenth Avenue-Freeze Out is so fantastic; there's even a 19:16-live version from MSG/NY 2000, ... . Every song is worth listening to, especially live, sometimes real “music journeys”. Certainly one of the best rock albums. Great if you go further!!!

[@JohnLedger-g4i]

Pure poetry

[@stevel2504]

It is an extraordinary album, no duff tracks.

[@MikeWalsh-f1g]

Born to Run, New York City Serenade, Growing Up, Rosalita(live), She's The One, Blinded By the Light.....

[@michaelkeefe8494]

RIP Big Man - best sax solo on a rock record. I second the call below for New York City Serenade, David Sancious' best work with the boss. Gotta be the studio version.

[@Rob-eo5ql]

Max Weinberg & Roy Bittan played the drums & keyboards, respectively, on Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell album

[@strettoasino9006]

It's a Rhapsody 🎶🎷

[@ChuckDrennen]

Springsteen at his best.

[@kansas1mjs483]

Meeting Across the River

[@kirksmith2051]

"Jungleland" is the masterpiece from the Born To Run album.

[@irmaoksanen6830]

Wow, first time hearing Springsteen. Everybody else would have picked Born in the USA or Dancing in the Dark.

[@joeboucher695]

Clarence is the person Bruce is leaning on in the cover. Whenever you hear him call out "Big man!" he's talking about or to Clarence. The track before Jungleland features the great bassist Richard Davis who was so amazing on Astral Weeks. Bruce is a huge Van Morrison fan in general (for me it comes through strongest on Rosalita) and of Astral Weeks in particular.

[@norsetech9416]

In my opinion "Born to Run" is the best Springsteen album, and "Jungleland" is the best Springsteen song. And the sax solo is not of this world. Gold! RIP Big C.

[@mareegibbs7919]

You should give a live version a look. Try either live in NYC 2000 or live at Hyde Park, London 2009.

[@flubblert]

It doesn't sound like him? Whaaa? Sure it did? Bruce does some of the best live concerts you will ever see. Talk about the storytelling in the songs, you should hear the stories he tells between the songs. When he shares personal intimate stories stories about what inspired the songs. I'll tell you a man he's mesmerizing. Saw him once at an indoor arena, the second time at Soldier Field in Chicago. Two of the best concerts I ever attended. 3 to 4 hour long shows and you just don't want it to end. He is truly The Boss. "Born to Run" off this album is a killer anthem for a whole generation, must be heard. And yes I got the 'year 2000' reference. Probably Conan's best bit. 😏

[@tomenrico6199]

You found his name. Yes, that was Clarence Clemons on the sax, aka the Big Man. He was the saxophonist for the E Street Band until his death in 2011. RIP.

[@kimmomaki]

for more of the Bittan signature piano chops, spin the Meat Loaf 'Bat Out of Hell' album.

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

Steven King has said, in an interview, that he named his epic apocalyptic novel "The Stand" after lyric from this Springsteen tune (We take our stand, down in Jungleland) King also borrowed from John Lennon's "Instant Karma" the lyric 'we all shine on' for his novel of "The Shinning". Shows the quality music that Steven King listened to while writing in the 1970's. Roy Bittan would enliven the music of David Bowie, and Dire Straits, and others, when not tour/record with Springsteen.

[@liblit]

Clarence by himself is a Martin Scorcese movie.

[@kevindriscoll8100]

Link for "She's The One" live...fantastic performance amd you'll see great work from Roy. Starts out slow...just wait for them to kick it up a notch. Side note, Sil from the Sopranos in the red suit kzbin.info/www/bejne/manCfGOqe72lbs0si=D6tzDslyDreIcK5i

[@Bar-l7w]

The year I graduated 75 love Bruce!

[@dougreed3047]

Bruce sings the whole thing

[@jkkansasband7056]

A classic among the classics. Check out Incident on 57th Street. Peace.

[@azizmooshoolov2308]

Anything from the NYC 1999-2000 or Barcelona 2002 is E Street at full power. Add in a little Rosalita 78 in Phoenix, and Streets of Fire from 78 black and white VHS "homecoming" show

[@AnnaRoseMahoney]

Badlands

[@robertscola4762]

Check out rosalita live phoenix

[@sam40368]

the drummer is max weinberg

[@junkyardheaven]

Tale 'bout the Magic Rat and the Barefoot Girl. Storytelling don't get much better...

[@procopiusaugustus6231]

The E Street Band was great. Saw them three times in the early ‘70s in small venues before Bruce hit it big. You should definitely check out his earlier work. It’s arguably his best.

[@brianbutz3306]

This whole album is great. I've been somewhat disillusioned with Springsteen in recent years since he basically exposed himself as playing a character. Posing as a working class Jersey Boy, he was never into cars, never worked a factory, quite simply never lived the life he's singing about. He is an incredible talent and songwriter though, and his band is phenomenal.

[@peterjohnson1091]

The piano and organ on the recording were played by Roy Bittan.

[@unclejohn1053]

That's Clements he's leaning against on the album cover RIP Clarence.

[@flarrfan]

If you want to hear David, go with either Incident on 57th St. or NYC Serenade from side 2 of Wild, Innocent, E Street Shuffle (his 2d unsuccessful but magnificent album)...

[@jimwoolridge5941]

Should always do Springsteen live

[@brianvernon249]

10th Avenue Freeze-out.

[@johng.8517]

That song "My Home Town" is about my home town which is Freehold NJ where Bruce grew up. He went to my high school but he's a few yrs older than me so I never met him. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWjKfIambbyiiMk

[@micheles1887]

You should watch Tenth Avenue Freeze-out live in NY to get introduced to the E Street Band members.

[@scottfrederick6053]

Bruce great up until after Born in USA album after that only a couple very good albums! But always phenomenal live with any song…any!

[@jbach4311]

RIP. Clarence Clemons.

[@bryanspringsteen761]

David Sancious "only" played on the song "Born To Run".😉.......or maybe I just watch the video completely first.......😂

[@JohnLedger-g4i]

Lee. The “ strings “ are Danny Federuci on organ

[@micheles1887]

That’s Roy Bittan on piano.

[@L33Reacts]

Yup, I say that half way thru the video. Lol thought it was Davidv